BREAK SPILLS GALLONS OF SEWAGE
City crews work to contain a
leak at Keehi Lagoon Park
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State labor board ruling expands teacher bonuses
About 5,000 more teachers may be eligible for a 3 percent bonus because of a decision issued yesterday by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.A Feb. 7 ruling had limited the bonuses to teachers with professional or Master's of Education degrees. But yesterday's decision removes the phrase "of education," opening the door to as many as 6,500 more teachers who have education-related master's degrees, said Joan Husted, executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.
The earlier ruling would have limited the bonus to about 1,649 teachers, Husted said.
Labor board Chairman Brian Nakamura said the initial ruling "inadvertently limited eligibility to Master's of Education.
"Our decision was to amend it so that the decision could not be read to limit qualifications to Master's of Education. Now how far the parties want to extend it is a function of what they want to decide."
The 3 percent bonuses were part of a two-year contract negotiated between the state and teachers union last April. The bonus issue held up implementation of the contract for several months when the state and union could not agree on whether the agreement required the state to pay the bonuses for one or both years. In its Feb. 7 ruling, the labor board said the state must pay the first year of bonuses, but sent the two parties back to the bargaining table for the second year.
Hickam's privatization of housing office costs 8 jobs
Eight civilians working in the office that supports Hickam Air Force Base's housing operations have lost their jobs as the Air Force continues to privatize some of its operations.Beginning April 1, Tunista Pacific Rim will take over the operations that used to be done by Hickam's Furnishing Management Office under a $6.6 million contract over 4 1/2 years. The office is now staffed by three enlisted Air Force members and eight civilians.
The Air Force said the affected civilians will be offered jobs with the private contractor and will be given priority job placement in other Department of Defense positions.
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The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Car shooting victim ID'd as Pearl City man
Honolulu police identified a 40-year-old man who was shot to death in his car along Vineyard Boulevard late Wednesday night as Earl Yasuto Hirakawa of Pearl City.Police said Hirakawa was found in his red Honda after it had crashed into a tree in the Ewa-bound lanes of Vineyard Boulevard at Aala Street about 11:50 p.m. He died later at the Queen's Medical Center.
The victim had a criminal history that included about 80 arrests, mostly for property crimes, police said.
Police are looking for a light-colored or white compact car that was seen on the road at the time of the shooting. Police also would like to talk to a tow-truck driver who may have been in the area of Vineyard Boulevard, Nuuanu Avenue or Maunakea Street at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide Detective Larry Tamashiro directly at 529-3083 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Homeless man's death is ruled an accident
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has determined that the death of a homeless man whose body was found near Honolulu Harbor's Pier 18 Wednesday was accidental.The body of Charles Eggleston, 34, was found next to a fence just a few feet off Nimitz Highway. There was blood on his body from an injury to its right arm. The Medical Examiner said Eggleston bled to death from the injury which he may have suffered climbing over the fence.
HPD sends helicopter after Elks Lodge burglars
The Honolulu Police Department helicopter was called out this morning to assist officers pursuing three burglars who entered the Elks Lodge in Waikiki.A security guard called police about 6:20 a.m. after seeing several men inside the lodge's kitchen. Waikiki police quickly set up a perimeter and called for the helicopter. Police apprehended one suspect who ran into a nearby home. They were looking for two other suspects this morning.
Woman suffers smoke inhalation in bed fire
A woman suffered smoke inhalation yesterday morning after trying to put out a mattress fire in her apartment, fire officials said.Firefighters who responded to the call at 2940 Varsity Circle in Manoa reported that the fire was extinguished by time they arrived, said fire Capt. Richard Soo.
The woman was taken to an area hospital.
The fire was probably caused by discarded smoking materials, Soo said.
LEEWARD OAHU
Kaihi man arrested in Pearl City bank heist
A 41-year-old Kalihi man was arrested yesterday in connection with one of two bank robberies that occurred within an hour in Pearl City and Waipahu.Police said they believe one man is responsible for both robberies.
The man was booked for the robbery of the American Savings Bank Pearl City Foodland branch at 1089 Waimano Home Rd. Police said the robber entered the bank about 12:30 p.m. yesterday, handed a teller a note indicating he had a gun and demanded money. No gun was seen. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police were able to identify the suspect's vehicle, which patrol officers stopped on Farrington Highway in Waipahu about 4 p.m. The driver was arrested after witnesses were taken to the scene and identified him.
The other robbery occurred at 11:40 a.m. at the City Bank Waipahu Branch at 94-210 Pupukahi St. Police said the suspect handed a teller a demand note that said he had a gun, though no gun was seen. He fled after receiving an undisclosed amount of money.
Father and son arrested for assaulting each other
A father and son were arrested at their home in Nanakuli Wednesday after an argument resulted in the son allegedly striking the father in the head with a baseball bat and the father allegedly chasing the son with a spear gun.Police said the 46-year-old father was hit with a bat after he kicked his 22-year-old son out of the house during an argument over missing money.
The father then grabbed a spear gun and chased his son with it, police said. Both were arrested for assault and terroristic threatening.
[THE COURTS]
Palau native agrees to face charges in Oregon
A 49-year-old native of Palau wanted in Oregon on 80 charges including sexual abuse, sodomy and providing drugs and alcohol to minors waived his rights in Circuit Court yesterday and agreed to go back to Oregon.Roman Ridep came to Honolulu from Palau last Friday to attend a workshop. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service detained him after noticing that Multnomah County in Oregon issued an arrest warrant for him in 1996.
Ridep told Honolulu police he was a teacher, and told the court he got his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University.
He is being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in lieu of $1.5 million bail until he is extradited within 15 to 30 days.
5 people indicted for 'ice' trafficking are arrested
Honolulu police and the FBI arrested five people yesterday who were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking multiple-pound quantities of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice."All five pleaded not guilty yesterday in federal court.
Khanh Le, 28, Vinh H. Tran, 24, Roger Rose, 21, and Chris H. Tran, 21, were secretly indicted yesterday. Thanh Cam Tran, 31, was indicted separately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Sorenson said the cases are loosely related to the general investigation of "ice" trafficking in Chinatown.
In August, 28 people were indicted in a Chinatown case, and there were another six related cases after that, he said.
Sorenson said some of them had a common source of supply and common dealings.
Trial is set for May 7.
